AROUND the NBA: ATL Jumps from #10 to #1 in Lotto| Pistons Mull Firing GM

[khaled1987]

Wonder how the Nuggets feel about MPJs contract right now. Almost single-handedly losing them games. Cannot make a shot on offense and is absolultely lost on defense. Almost feels like he doesn´t know the scheme.

Doubt they have any remorse about it.
He is integral part of their run, even if he doesn't show up in a series. 
You have to make some overpay if you want to be contender, that is how current CBA works. 

He will be traded at some point, and unless some bad injury happen I think it won't be difficult. Especially if they won the Finals.
Age is in his side, and GM always value players who were in championship run. They will ge some value back.

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Against a team without a center in an era without centers. Whatever.

I think that makes him more impressive,  not the opposite. 
He has done it against the trends and new approaches. Not when it was supposed to be the big men league.

[dirkfansince1998]

Three games into the finals. Jokic is on a historic run and the most popular media talking heads still sound like they have never seen him play...

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/stat...7994563584

[khaled1987]

Three games into the finals. Jokic is on a historic run and the most popular media talking heads still sound like they have never seen him play...

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/stat...7994563584

At least JJ is there, which is huge upgrade for ESPN

[OBX Maverick]

Look who’s been working out!!

   

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Denver has too much for Miami. It's not the usual suspects this time. Aaron Gordon picked the perfect time to have a breakout game in these playoffs. He has 25 entering the 4th with Denver up by 13.

[dirkfansince1998]

Denver has too much for Miami. It's not the usual suspects this time. Aaron Gordon picked the perfect time to have a breakout game in these playoffs. He has 25 entering the 4th with Denver up by 13.

Refs take over and the Heat are back in the game.

[dirkfansince1998]

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/1...7442421768

2006 flashbacks...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Refs take over and the Heat are back in the game.

Not no more. It's a wrap now. Bruce Brown has taken his turn.

[SwisherPrice]

Eastern Conference should be ashamed for letting this Heat team make it this far

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Joker and Murray didn't have outstanding games, and they still won going away. Denver's window competing for titles is wide open now.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

The refs tried tried tried to give it to Miami. What an absolute atrocious stretch of officiating. Weird that Malone didn’t use a challenge on any of of those (take your pick.) thankfully he finally benched MPJ. 

KCP, Brown, Braun. Calvin Booth absolutely nailed his first off-season. Too bad Monte Morris had to be sacrificed to make it happen.

[dirkfansince1998]

Can we talk about the crowd. In game three people left after the 3rd quarter. Today it took half of the 3rd quarter for people to get back to their seats after halftime.
Worst atmosphere I have ever seen. No one even cares about the game.

Priorities...
1) Instagram
2) T-shirt toss
3) Kiss/dance cam
4) Food/Drinks
5) NBA finals

[SleepingHero]

Can we talk about the crowd. In game three people left after the 3rd quarter. Today it took half of the 3rd quarter for people to get back to their seats after halftime.
Worst atmosphere I have ever seen. No one even cares about the game.

Priorities...
1) Instagram
2) T-shirt toss
3) Kiss/dance cam
4) Food/Drinks
5) NBA finals

MIA fans are as fickle as they come. They don't care about basketball, they care about pizzazz and glitz. What I find even more incredible is that there are some (most even) that paid $5,000+ for their lower bowl seats only to leave early. I can think of better ways to spend 5k in less than 3 hours

[Chicagojk]

The balls seems to find Jokic on most possessions, but he doesn’t dominate the ball. If that makes sense.

They get really good shots on most possessions. Not very many no pass three pointers or difficult heat check threes. They just get good shot after good shot. A lot of easy baskets too.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Am I the only one watching the finals thinking the Luka/Kyrie two-man offensive scheme could be very much like Joker/Murray? IMO, you have Kidd watch EVERY minute of Joker/Murray on the floor at the same time before you look at adding any other pieces to the scheme.

[chaparral]

Am I the only one watching the finals thinking the Luka/Kyrie two-man offensive scheme could be very much like Joker/Murray?  IMO, you have Kidd watch EVERY minute of Joker/Murray on the floor at the same time before you look at adding any other pieces to the scheme.

I'm not a fan of Harden/Luka ball or (my turn/your turn) with Luka/Kyrie.  So yes, I hope the Mavs can employ a new style of play.  But do you think Kidd has what it takes to develop a new style?

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm not a fan of Harden/Luka ball or (my turn/your turn) with Luka/Kyrie.  So yes, I hope the Mavs can employ a new style of play.  But do you think Kidd has what it takes to develop a new style?

You are spot on that Lukai is never going to work the way they did it last spring. I don't believe that Kidd has it in him to adapt, nor do I think Luka is really willing to adapt. Everyone talks about not-if-but-when Kyrie demands out. I think Luka will ask out sooner because he simply does not want to share the ball. If he would just learn ball movement and playing off ball in the NBA - you know, like he already did with greater success internationally than he's ever had with the Mavs (duh!!!!!!!!!!), Lukai could be an offensive juggernaut. For whatever reason, Luka has shown no interest in doing it in the NBA. I pray that changes, but I don't think it will. Someone needs to slap him upside the head and tell him that "I wanna be just like the Beard without one!" is a pathetic NBA goal.

[chaparral]

You are spot on that Lukai is never going to work the way they did it last spring. I don't believe that Kidd has it in him to adapt, nor do I think Luka is really willing to adapt. Everyone talks about not-if-but-when Kyrie demands out. I think Luka will ask out sooner because he simply does not want to share the ball. If he would just learn ball movement and playing off ball in the NBA - you know, like he already did with greater success internationally than he's ever had with the Mavs (duh!!!!!!!!!!), Lukai could be an offensive juggernaut. For whatever reason, Luka has shown no interest in doing it in the NBA. I pray that changes, but I don't think it will. Someone needs to slap him upside the head and tell him that "I wanna be just like the Beard without one!" is a pathetic NBA goal.

Do you think Luka really wants the Mavs to resign Kyrie?

[Scott41theMavs]

Do you think Luka really wants the Mavs to resign Kyrie?

No. But he knows there's really no other way for them to have a decent talent quotient around him with Dodo and Spencer gone, so he'll keep his mouth shut.

Best case scenario, my speculations are way off and Luka is listening to people around him telling him his best play is to learn how to play well with a guy like Kyrie, and comes into the season ready to rock.

[Knutsen]

No. But he knows there's really no other way for them to have a decent talent quotient around him with Dodo and Spencer gone, so he'll keep his mouth shut.

Best case scenario, my speculations are way off and Luka is listening to people around him telling him his best play is to learn how to play well with a guy like Kyrie, and comes into the season ready to rock.

Best case is Luka watches his good friend Jokic win the finals and understands what makes him so great, which is his off-ball movement and his unselfishness that empowers all his teammates.